Dodge "Gap"

[mhd]

My group started playing HERO a few months ago (switching from a GURPS campaign), and it's been going pretty well. But while discussing the intricacies of aborting actions, a few questions came up. I, as the GM, apparently ruled right, but while reviewing the relevant rules, something came up that's either a bit odd or just shows my misunderstanding of one of the rules terms involved.

 

Let's say Alice (DEX 15, SPD 3), Bob (DEX 13, SPD 2) and Charlie (DEX 10, SPD 2) are fighting, with Alice and Charlie ganging up on Bob. In Segment 8, Alice attacks Bob, who aborts to dodge. Now in Segment 12, Alice attacks again, but the DCV Bonus is still at work and saves his life again. But now it would be his phase, which ends his DCV bonus. Which might be all what Charlie needs, when he attacks as the last in the segment. And Bob can't abort his segment 6 phase to dodge that, as per 6E2 22.

 

So, when dodging, it would seem beneficial when you're the one with the lowest DEX? If Alice and Bob were fighting Charlie, he would also get two attacks in segment 12, but his DCV bonus would apply to both.

[JamesG]

Bob's Dodge bonus is in effect until Segment 6, when he next gets his phase. He does not lose in on Segment 12 when he would have had his phase, since he aborted his segment 12 phase.

[mhd]

Thanks, and it's actually plainly stated like that on 6E2 22, which apparently I've been reading rather selectively.

[Killer Shrike]

Also, don't forget that higher DEX gives you the _option_ to go first. You don't HAVE to go first. You can hold and attempt a DEX off to interrupt something.

[JamesG]

Also' date=' don't forget that higher DEX gives you the _option_ to go first. You don't HAVE to go first. You can hold and attempt a DEX off to interrupt something.[/quote']

 

 

But keep in mind any maneuver bonuses (or penalties) from the prior phase end when your phase comes up, even if you decide to hold your action.

 

For instance in the original example, Bob's Dodge bonus ends at Dex 13 in segment 6 whether or not he takes his action then or decides to hold his action.

[Killer Shrike]

The poster is saying that the FASTER / HIGHER DEX character in the scenario (Alice) is PENALIZED while the SLOWER / LOWER DEX character (Charlie) is not as Alice goes before the target (Bob) and Bob's dodge bonus still applies while Charlie goes after and the dodge bonus no longer applies.

 

My point is that ALICE could hold her action until after BOB's DEX comes around and thus BOB's DCV bonus would not apply. Higher DEX is not penalizing Alice, its giving her the option to decide whether it is more advantageous to go before Bob, or wait for Bob and then try to interrupt him, or to go after Bob.

 

[JamesG]

Totally agree KS. My post was only so that someone didn't think they could extend their Dodge bonus by Holding. Apologies if my wording made it sound like I was disagreeing with your main point.